First, is it realistic to assume that 8,000 welfare recipients with varying degrees of job readiness will be able to find (and maintain) jobs that pay an average of $5.99 per hour?

Second, is it realistic to force welfare recipients described as "legitimately . . . unable to perform self-sustaining work even in a community service job" to work in transitional jobs? Where are they "transitioning" to, if they are kicked off public aid and are unable to work?

And third, is it realistic to mandate that after two consecutive years--five years total--thousands of welfare recipients will lose their eligibility for cash benefits? What will become of these people once their time limit is up? Does Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson care?

As these questions illustrate, welfare reform designed to "get tough" on recipients is frequently not based in reality. While Gov. Thompson talks about reform creating Independence Day for families on welfare and the Tribune crows about how "wise" and "wholesome" it is, thousands of women and children will be forced into even greater isolation and poverty.